Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution

Despite some progress over the past decade, untreated wastewater remains a significant global challenge. Climate change impacts, population growth and urbanization continue to put a strain on water resources globally and there is a growing political urgency to develop and implement solutions for sustainable water and wastewater management.

Pollution from wastewater is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss and a major threat to human health, particularly affecting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems, including marine and freshwater ones. But when adequately treated, wastewater can become a valuable resource.

Safe and appropriate wastewater management for resource recovery and reuse goes beyond achieving water security, with potential co-benefits including improved health and wellbeing, reduced dependence on artificial fertilizers, diversification of energy production and economic opportunity.

The session is organized to launch the report “Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution” and discuss its findings. The report is a follow-up product to the Sick Water report launched in 2011 at World Water Week.

You can access the report here: Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution | UNEP - UN Environment Programme. 

The event will be organized in person at World Water Week in Live Studio Room 27, on Wednesday 23 August 2023, 11:00-11:40 AM Stockholm time. Furthermore, there is a possibility to follow it online. 

Register for the event at: worldwaterweek.org/tickets and look for Session ID 10941.

More on UNEP's participation at World Water Week.